Percussion instruments bow

ABSTRACT

A device for playing percussion instruments by striking or bowing a free accessible edge comprises an arcuate handle having a web of high coefficient of friction material stretched across the chord of the arc, and a mallet affixed to one end. A tensioning device on the end opposite the mallet provides for adjustments and maintenance of the tension of the web.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of musical instruments and inparticular to devices for playing percussion instruments such asxylophones, vibraphones, marimbas, cymbals and the like, whichinstruments have a surface and an accessible free edge.

2. Prior Art

In the past, novelty and variety of musical sounds have been created byan ever-increasing array of specialized and exotic musical devices aswell as implements for playing those devices. In particular, percussioninstruments and accessories of all varieties and in all size ranges haveproliferated over the course of music history.

For high-level musical ensembles, it is expected that professionalpercussionists will exhibit virtuousity in both the traditionalpercussion instruments, such as drums and cymbals and the like, and inthe performance of chromatic, melodic passages on instruments havingfull chromatic capabilities such as xylophones, marimbas, and the like.

Studio musicians in particular are required to exhibit sufficientversatility and accomplishment to play technically complex melodicpassages, and music having melodic passages is frequently encountered inthe professional's playing environment. Due to the demand for varietywhich is placed on the modern day percussionists, and due to the costsof production in the music industry, exotic and special effects areincreasingly the responsibility of fewer and fewer individuals. Thedemand for novelty in recorded sound also requires a wide range oftalents, especially from percussionists.

A variety of mechanical devices have heretofore been devised to assistpercussionists in the performance of these tasks, including both newimplements for playing the instruments, and new methods of holding oroperating both the new and the old implements. In addition, newpercussion instruments have been proposed as well.

A recent innovation in the performance of percussion passages is atechnique which employs bows, of the type usually employed by stringplayers, to produce a continuous sound from an instrument which isotherwise normally struck by a stick or mallet. The bow is brought intocontact with the free edge of a percussion device, such as a xylophonebar or the edge of a cymbal, and is caused to pass along the edge of thedevice thereby causing it to be continuously sounded at its naturalresonance frequencies. For those instruments which have a singleresonance, such as the bars of xylophones, vibraphones, marimbas, andthe like, the result is a continuous tone the magnitude of which isdetermined by the amount of pressure and the speed with which the bow isdrawn across the edge of the bar.

For instruments having no distinct resonant frequency, such as cymbalsand the like, bowing produces a unique and completely different soundcomprised of the complex resonances of the instrument within thevicinity of the bowed edge. The effect thus obtained is notreproducible, however, by any other percussionist's implementsregardless of how skilled the player may be.

Frequently in the performance of a musical score, percussionists arerequired to produce, rapidly in alternation, both bowed and struck soundeffects, which effects require either two or more persons since such arapid change of playing implements would render the passage technicallyimpossible for a single player using conventional implements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a need exists for a device for playing percussioninstruments, which device may be rapidly alternated between use as apercussive mallet and a bow. The present invention provides thisobjective by providing a lightweight, at least partially arcuate handle,stretched between the two ends of which is a thin web of an appropriatesubstance having a high coefficient of friction with the surface of theinstrument which is being played. At one end of the handle is atensioning device which may be adjusted to cause the web to be eitherloosened or tightened, providing varying degrees of tension, as bestsuited to the characteristics of the instrument being played. At theother end of the bow, and adapted to the bow such that it protrudes fromthe extreme end of the bow, is a spheroidally-shaped striking surface,adapted to produce the desired percussive effect when the surface of thepercussive instrument is struck.

These features and others of the present invention are shown in thefollowing text and in the drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a percussionist's bow having a simpletensioning device and a striking implement in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional, detailed side view of the striking portionof the bow showing a threaded insert and the matching threaded rod forinterchangeability of mallets.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a percussionist's bow having a simplifiedstructure and a simplified tensioning device in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a detailed, enlarged view of the tensioning device shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a first alternative tensioning device.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the first alternativetensioning device shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of a second alternative tensioningdevice.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of a third alternative tensioningdevice.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of a fourth alternative tensioningdevice.

FIG. 10 is an oblique side view of the percussionist's bow of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a side view of thepercussionist's bow 10 in accordance with the present invention. In FIG.1, the principal parts of the bow are the handle 11, the web 12, themallet 13, and tensioning components 14. The handle may be manufacturedof any strong light-weight material which is capable of being formedinto the desired slightly arcuate shape. It is preferred that the handlebe easily grasped, generally at the end where the tensioning device islocated, so that the webbing 12 may be drawn across the edge of theinstrument, or so that the mallet 13 may be used to strike theinstrument.

A sufficient clearance between the handle 11 and the web 12 can beprovided by making the clearance as small as even one centimeter orless. However, to allow easy facility in holding the handle, it ispreferred that the webbing to handle clearance be on the order of 2 or 3centimeters or greater.

The mallet 13 may be manufactured of any material having suitablehardness and resiliance to produce the desired percussive effects whenthe mallet is struck upon the surface of the instrument. A differenthardness and resiliance may be desired, for example, to play marimbas,as opposed to xylophones. And a different hardness and resiliance stillmay be desired to produce the expected sound effects on a cymbal. Formost uses, and for average players, the mallet head will be chosen to berelatively soft vinyl or equivalent may be employed having anapproximate range of 30-90 Durometer hardness. Rigid plastics, wood,felt and various combinations of overlaying felt or yarn material mayalso be employed for varying effects. In the preferred embodiment themallet is interchangeable, as shown in FIG. 2, by means of engagement ofa threaded shaft 15 with a threaded shaft insert 16 which is installedin the mallet end of the bow.

The webbing 12 is retained at the mallet end by swaging the webbing intoa slotted cylindrical hollow 17 which thereby engages a thickenedportion of the webbing. The edges of the hollow 17 are preferablydeburred or rounded to prevent sharp edges from being in contact withthe webbing in the vicinity of the mallet end.

The webbing 12 itself is comprised of a plurality of strands of suitablematerial for creation of a high coefficient of friction with the edge ofthe instrument being played. Traditional materials such as horsehair maybe employed, however, a more suitable, and the preferred material iscomposed of a plurality of strands of monofilament Nylon having adiameter equivalent to approximately a 12 pound test line.

The webbing 12 material in its original condition is too smooth to havethe desired high coefficient of friction. Accordingly, it is treated toroughen its surface by means of abrasion of the strands with a fineabrasive. Chemical etching may also be employed.

Following the roughening, the user may load the surface of the strandswith a material such as resin to further enhance its friction. Theroughening followed by resin-loading thus produces a very highcoefficient of friction with all surfaces of interest to apercussionist.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a cross-sectional side view of atensioning device 14 in accordance with the present invention.Adjustment nut 41 is internally threaded with a thread configurationhaving a very low pitch in order to afford maximum adjustability and tominimize the tendency to gradually lose adjustment. Tensioning block 42is a portion of a threaded cylinder having an external threadconfiguration adapted to that of the internal thread of adjustment nut41. Tensioning block 42 is restrained against rotation and is caused toslide within the confines of a semi-circularly shaped slot formed by theinside dimension of the handle 11 and a semi-circularly shaped spacer43. Spacer 43 is in turn held in place by screw 45.

Tensioning block 42 is preferably attached to web 12 by means of aslotted cylindrical hollow 44 which is adapted to be swaged to fit aslightly enlarged cylindrically shaped portion at the end of the web 12.

In FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are shown an alternative version of a tensioningdevice 14 consisting of a small cylinder 19 which is adapted to fit thecurve provided by the curved area 20 of the handle 11. Adjusting screw21 has an "L"-shaped portion whereby the screw may be rotated by fingerpressure, and an enlarged head end 22 which engages the handle by meansof pressure, against the circumference of the tensioning aperture 23.Tensioning screw 21 is threaded along at least a portion of its length,with the threaded portion 24 engaging the mating threads of theadjustment nut 25 which in turn applies force to the circumference ofthe cylinder 19 by means of lever arm 26. Since force is exerted towardthe frame by the adjustment screw 21 on one side of the cylinder 19 andtension of the web 12 on the opposite side of the cylinder 19 exerts abalancing force against the frame, cylinder 19 is automaticallymaintained within its position within the curved portion 20 of thehandle 11.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown a cross-sectional side view of asecond alternative tensioning device in accordance with the presentinvention. Lever 71 is pivoted near the curve of the handle 11 and hastwo arms extending through the handle. The first arm 72 is attached tothe web 12 by suitable means. The second arm 73 extends into the linearportion of the handle and has a threaded portion which engages thematching threads of an adjusting screw 74. Adjusting screw 74 isretained in place and is restrained against movement by means of aenlarged end 75 which engages the sides of an aperture 76 in the lowerside of the handle. Turning adjustment screw 74 causes movement of arm73 which in turn causes movement of arm 72, causing web 12 to betightened or loosened as is required.

Other variants of the lever arrangement may of course be devised withthe pivot and fulcrum being interchanged, as is well known. The levermay also be straight and contained entirely within the confines of theportion of the handle between the curve and its end.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is shown a cross-sectional side view of athird alternative tensioning device in accordance with the presentinvention.

Threaded members 82 and 83 are reversed-pitched and engage complementarythreads on the interior of adjustment nut 80. Each threaded member 82and 83 respectively is attached to one portion of the handle by anysuitable means or may be integrally formed with the handle. Thus,threaded member 82 attaches to the mallet end of the handle 85, whilethread 83 attaches to the opposite end 86. Adjustment of the webbingtension is accomplished by rotating the adjustment nut 80 with respectto the handles. Alignment of the handles is maintained by the engagementof alignment pin 84 with a matching cavity 81. Both lineal and axialalignments are maintained by giving the pin and cavity a non-circularcross-section, preferably a square or triangular shape for simplicity.

In FIG. 9, there is shown a fourth alternative tensioning device inaccordance with the present invention. The webbing 12 is maintained tautby spooling it around axle 94, which is slotted to engage thecylindrically-shaped enlarged end 37 of the webbing. Tightening isachieved by rotation of the axle 94 by means of thumbwheel 91. When thedesired tension is achieved, the axle 94 position is maintained by theaction of ratchet 92 and its engagement with pawl 93. The pawl is inturn maintained in position against the ratchet by means of springpressure exerted by spring 96. To loosen the tension, the pawl 93 isbacked away from the ratchet 92 by means of grip 95, thereby allowingthe axle 94 to turn freely.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 10, there is shown a simpler version of apercussionist's bow 30 similar in overall form to that of FIGS. 1 and 2,and 4 through 9, but employing a tensioning device of less complexity.The mallet 13 is fixedly attached to a handle 31 upon which are mountedtwo halves of a simple tensioning device consisting of tensioning blocks32 and 33, suspended between which is the web 12. The tensioning blocks32 and 33 are simple blocks having, on at least one side, a shapeadapted to spread the web uniformly across a flat surface, and having amounting hole which is a close, snug fit to the shaft 30. The tensionprovided by the web 12 tends to maintain both mounting blocks 32 and 33in a slightly angled position with respect to the shaft 31 so that thatforce exerted by the edges of their mounting holes causes a highcoefficient of friction to exist between the inside bore on the mountingholes and shaft 30. Thus the web is maintained in a fixed tension untilthe blocks are released. To apply tension, the blocks are held inposition and in an approximate alignment with the shaft so that theircenter holes are maintained in alignment with shaft 30 and are forced inopposite directions until the desired tension exists on the web 12. Theblocks are then allowed to resume their natural position thereby bindingupon the shaft 30 and causing their tension to be maintained untilreleased as noted above. In the preferred embodiment, the tensioningblocks have an elongated mounting hole which provides greater frictionalforces against the shaft 31. Attachment of the tensioning blocks 32 and33 is preferably by means of slotted cylindrical cavities 36 and 37which are swaged to engage the enlarged ends of the web 12. The mallet13 may, as before, be manufactured of any material having suitablehardness and resiliance to produce the desired percussive effect.

The handle 30 may be manufactured of any material having strengthsufficient to withstand the pressures exerted by the web 12 on themounting blocks 32 and 33 without excessive deformation or breakage ofthe handle 30.

All of the mallets described are employed in the same way. In use, thepercussionist grips the handle at the end opposite the mallet and mayuse it as a conventional mallet for striking the surface of a percussioninstrument. When continuous tones or sound effects are required,however, the web 12 is brought into contact with the edge of theinstrument being played by angling the handle with respect to thesurface of the instrument and resting the web 12 upon the edge. The bowis then moved with respect to the edge of the instrument, therebyproducing extremely rapid alternating engagement and disengagement ofthe edge of the instrument with the web. If the instrument is one of thefamily of instrument having a natural resonant frequency such as thebars the xylophone produces, the bow produces a continuous, sound at thecharacteristic resonance frequency. The amplitude of the tone thusproduced may be increased by increasing the pressure of the web againstthe instrument or by increasing the speed with which the bow is drawnacross the edge.

For those instruments within the family of instruments having no simplenatural resonance, such as cymbals and the like, the bow produces acontinuous sound having the characteristic tones of the instrument butabsent the large transient which characterize the instrument when it isplayed by normal percussion techniques. The characteristic sound is thatof the complex tones produced by exciting the complex resonances of theinstrument within the vicinity of the bowed edge. The effect produced isunlike any sound which can be produced by conventional percussionist'simplements regardless of the skill of the player.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations ofthe device described in the preferred embodiment may be practicedwithout departure being made from the principles of the presentinvention, and that each of these variations will be practiced withinthe scope of the invention which is defined or set forth in thefollowing claims:

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for producing sounds on a percussioninstrument comprising:an elongated at least partially arcuate handle,having a first and second end; a web of a material having a relativelyhigh coefficient of friction with the edge of a percussion instrument,the first end of which is attached to the first end of the handle;tensioning means, adapted to the second end of the handle and attachedto the second end of the web, such that the web can be brought intotension against the handle across the chord of the arc; mallet means,attached to the first end of the handle, for striking surfaces ofpercussion instruments.
 2. A device for producing percussion instrumentsounds, comprising:an elongated handle; a first and a second tensioningblock having apertures which slightly clear the dimensions of the handleso that the tensioning blocks snugly but slideably fit the handle; a webof material having a relatively high coefficient of friction with thesurface of a percussion instrument, one end of which is affixed to thefirst tensioning block, the other end of which is affixed to the secondtensioning block; mallet means, attached to one end of the handle, forstriking surfaces of percussion instruments.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1or claim 2 in which the web material is stranded, monofilament nylonhaving a plurality of strands of approximately twelve-pound testmonofilament nylon.
 4. The apparatus of claim or claim 2 in which themallet is interchangeable.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which theinterchangeable mallet is a mallet head mounted upon a first threadedfastener and the first end of the handle is fitted with a secondthreaded fastener having threading which mates with the threading of thefirst threaded fastener.